My Rhode Island Journal
This is the first day in Rhode Island. I've been sent to V14 ops class followed by UCFS class in another month. I'm not happy. I already know how to work the system but the ship has to have NEC's on the ship for it's systems. I don't understand why I can't get OJT credit, but I can't fight it.
Today, we finally finished flying. My first flight was on a 767 from SeaTac to Atlanta, then from Atlanta to Providence in a CRJ-900 or something like that, a little puddle-jumper.
We are staying in the NewPort Chalet hotel on-base. It's not too bad except that Jenny isn't here. I have all the basic amenities plus a fridge and microwave. I'm glad I thought to bring a powerstrip though. Otherwise I can't have the fridge and microwave plugged in at the same time. Wierd, but a small issue.
I got a bit of sleep this afternoon, and Jenny and turned on the webcams. We watched the history channel together (I had my webcam facing the tv...) and then talked for a bit after that. I can't believe the Whale Wars ship rammed the whaler!
I'm going to try to keep this journal going. Wish me luck. Tomorrow is all our check-in stuff. Passes, ID's, books, schedules, blah, blah, blah, et...
Anyway, it's late and I'm a little jet-lagged, so I'm off to bed. I have to muster at 0615 tomorrow morning which means waking up by 0520'ish.
We mustered out front of the hotel at 0615, breakfast muster was at 0525 but I didn't eat, so I slept in a bit. Anyway, we got a our access cards and got the indoc briefs today. I swapped the debit/credit card for the credit card at the front desk. That should make paying bills easier, as Jenny will be able to transfer the per diem money I'll need to the pay on the credit card as I pay off the room every week. And bill paying money will be separate from per diem needs.
I bought some frozen pizza and such for microwaving here in the room. A friend is talking about looking for some good fishing spots later this afternoon/evening. I'm invited as the only other person interested... Their loss right? For now, I'm going to veg and watch tv for a bit, maybe take a nap until he calls.
I forgot to finish yesterday but I didn't do much else. My friend never called, so I talked to Jenny some more and watched the history channel. Today we did a few slideshows about basic equipment purposes and locations. So far, all review for those of us from the ship, but we have two recruits fresh from A school that know nothing about it. I suppose we'll have to stay awake while they catch up to us.
At lunch, we went to the commisary where I bought half a pound of sushi and ate it all. I guess I was hungry. After lunch we finished some more paperwork to get our computer access for the classroom, then got a tour of the labs. Nothing exciting there. That all took us long enough that we couldn't do anymore slideshows. No disappointment there. Then we went to the commisary again for grocery shopping. I got my sandwich makings, some crispix cereal, milk, juice, a&w root beer, whole wheat bread, plastic silverware, and some paper towels. Of course I forgot to to get a plastic bowl for the cereal. I'll have to eat out of a cup for tomorrow's breakfast I guess...
Now I'm watching the discover channel some more and talking to Jenny on the webcam.
Today has been bit more eventful so far. I think we've finally managed to get all the admin stuff out of the way. We are doing a lot more classwork. Pt this morning was interesting. We played handball, which seems to be a combination of ultimate frisbee and soccer. While playing, I managed to lose my wedding ring. We did a full walkdown of the field until we had to go to class, then our LPO lpo and I came back during lunch. He found it within ten minutes. So I owe him a big one! Anyway, they are all making fun of me for flipping out.
After class we went to the beach (I left my ring in the hotel room for that...) Now we're planning to watch a movie tonight. I'm still waiting for the word on what and when. TTYL
So nothing too exciting today. We played ultimate frisbee for pt this morning...in 30mph winds... then we reviewed a little this morning in the classroom. After lunch we took the test we're supposed to take tomorrow. It just covered basic equipment locations and purposes. Since the majority of us have already been on the ship for a year or more using the equipment we are now finally being trained to use, we already know all of it. We were given two hours to take a 20 question test. I finished first in less than five minutes and got a 100%. Now I'm just chilling in the hotel room trying to rest from a late night last night.
Again, nothing too exciting. We took the test last night so today we just had to set up for a senior chief's retirement ceremony. We didn't have to show up until nine, which was way cool. After lunch, we attended the ceremony as guests which was odd. I've never been a guest at a military retirement before. I've always had to stand at parade rest for the whole two hours or so. After that, we spent all of 15 minutes taking down again (about the same time to set up). Then we were done for the day. I was going to a friend's house. His family lives in CT so we were all going to go spend the weekend there. At the last minute, a couple of minors in the group said they were going to drink. So, me being the prude that I am, decided not to go. I don't need to get in trouble by being a part of that. Plus, my own morals ate at my consious about it. So here I sit. I'll go play pool or go bowling onbase tomorrow. Tonight, I'm going to sleep.
I slept in today. Mostly because I stayed up late last night watching movies. Then I bought groceries and hung out playing pool for a little while. Mostly I took it easy today. Now, tomorrow I'm going to rent a kayak. Hopefully they have some real ones. I've seen an aweful lot of these half-a-kayaks around. I can't stand these sit-on-top kayaks. Especially in the surf. Anyway, I've tried to get Jenny on the webcam but messenger seems to be hating me right now. I'm going to watch The Three Musketeers and then head to bed. I'll be getting up early to get on the water.
Today I called the church but was too late for services, and the babtism they'd just had. But the Bishop did come pick me up for the linger-longer. Turns out the ward building is only a mile and a half up the road from the base. I met a few outdoorsman like myself and commited to hiking a mountain in three weeks. I also left my phone number and asked them to grab me just about any time after 1600 for any activity. I can't really hang out much with the other people from the ship because all they want to do is go to the bars and watch all the wrong movies. But I think I got hooked up today. Unfortunately I couldn't rent a kayak as, you guessed it, they are closed on sundays. For the rest of the day, I think I'll wander along the waterfront and see what's there.
Well, I did wander the base waterfront and check this out! I found a concert! Definitely not what I expected to find on the shore, but cool. There ended up being at least a couple of thousand people there. The opening band was called Wayz&Means and the main event was the Navy Band Northeast. Then fireworks at the end. The fireworks were great for the first minute, but then we all discovered which way the barely-there wind was blowing. Now I'm drinking aquafina and sucking on a cough drop. Oh well, it will help me remember the occasion. I'm going to finish this bottle, watch the last half of The Three Musketeers, and then head to bed.
Went to school today as normal, but the fun started afterward. We got out a little early so I went down to the marina. I found the rental kayaks and took one out for a couple of hours. It was a sit-on-top so I wasn't too thrilled with it and I got soaked, of course. I was feeling a bit disappointed, but on my way back in I ran into this guy hosing down his sailboat. We talked for a little while and then I went to turn in the kayak. I paid my two dollars per hour, $4 total, then went back to the dock to chat some more. I ended up helping him wash the boat then he invited me to take a cruise around the bay in it. Of course I jumped on and proceeded to get a crash course in sailing a 25ft sailboat. Way too much fun, but worked all the wrong muscles. Now I'm exhausted, but we traded phone numbers. I bring lunch, he gives lessons. Sounds like a good use of three afternoons per week for the next two months.
Sorry, nothing to tell today. I went to school, that's a given. Then I signed up for sailing classes that will start on the 8th. I may be going fishing in an hour so so but I'm still waiting for that to materialize.
We did go fishing at about 1930. We went to the other side of the island (we're in Newport) and tried some night fishing for stripers. No luck but I did get my picture taken for the biggest salad of the night!
So of course I had class today, that much I think is a given by now. Then I went sailing again. I'm really starting to get the hang of it. We went under the bridge (the on in the picture) and went a ways out of the bay so I could get a feel for real ocean winds and currents. I'm thinking by the time I take the class I'll already have a good idea of how to do it. This weekend I'm going to try to get to Boston.
Waited for three hours this morning at dental only to find out that it had been rescheduled for the 10th soon after I got there. I'm sure glad they let me know! (sarcasm) After lunch we took the week 2 test and of course aced it. Somehow I still happen to know all the basics they are teaching. Were it not for the vacation away from the ship that this is turning out to be, I would call it a waste of time and funding. Anyhow, I am apparently suffering from some allergy or another. I'm going to drink a root beer and head to bed. (the sleep is for the allergies, the root beer is for me...) Oh, our fearless leader was taking one of our recruits into town to buy a car (yeah, I know...) so we took a scenic tour of Ocean Drive and Castle Hill while we waited for him to do paperwork. He took some nice pictures that I'll be sure to pass on to everyone.
Sailing fell through. So today I ironed uniforms and did laundry. Then I watched some tv, talked to Jenny, and organized a trip to Boston for tomorrow. Sorry, that's about it for today. Tomorrow will make up for it though. We'll be leaving by 730 and wont be back until probly midnight or so.
I almost didn't get to go to Boston. The MWR trip turned out to be next Saturday, not this Saturday as I was led to believe. Unfortunately, I will be taking a sailing lesson next Saturday that I've already paid for. So I tried calling the church to see if anyone would be willing to go if I paid gas, lunch, and tour. I'm still sure that someone would have taken the offer, but I couldn't get hold of anyone. So I tried my next option. I asked our fearless leader, Davis, if I could take the rental car. He said no, but he would drive it down. So we went. We first visited the Constitution, which is currently being repaired and is missing much of her masts and rigging and has all sorts of construction going on. We still got a tour, it just felt a bit wrong, but still cool. Then we visited the U.S.S. Cassin Young.
After visiting the ships, we ate lunch at 'The Galley'. Afterward, we had to catch a cab in order to make the tour in Boston on time. We did, with a few minutes to spare. The tour was called "The Heart of The Freedom Trail" and was guided by the 'Boston By Foot' organization. We visited almost all the major sites including the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, Old South Meeting House, King's Chapel, Quincy Market, the Paul Revere Chapel, and I can't remember the rest. It was definitely a day well spent. I left with $60 and came back with $14, so considering everything we did, I don't believe I spent too much. (that includes the parking fee and lunch)
I almost slept in too late today, but fortunately my ride seems to know us Navy types on a Sunday morning and called me 20 minutes before he was supposed to be here. So I woke up and went to church. I ended up meeting several midshipmen from OCS here on base and told them a few horror stories that I made up on the spot. So I lied a little... Anyway, I'm worn out from wandering all of Boston all day yesterday and took a nap after church and then got on the webcam with Jenny. I'm actually still talking to her right now. Tomorrow I'm going to the ward's Labor Day picnic.
I woke up at about 930, which was way cool. On my last day of my four-day weekend I went to the ward labor day picnic. We got a good soccer game going with several men and the local church boy scout troop. I've never felt so old before! My team won although I don't feel that i contributed all that much to the effort but we had fun. After that, I went and helped Mike work on his boat a bit, the keel is fouled so he's going to dive tomorrow to clean it. I think I'll leave it to him. Besides, tomorrow is my first day of sailing lessons. I think it's just classwork tomorrow though. Unfortunately, I realized why everyone wanted to go grocery shopping on Saturday. I didn't need anything then, but I did today and the commissary was closed. So I went to Pizza Hut and got one of their new ring-of-cheese-on-the-crust sausage pizzas and a desert pizza. Not too bad. Very cheesy. Anyway, I need to finish getting uniforms ready for the week, then head to bed.
I had cold pizza for breakfast this morning. That has to be the best ever!! Class at least covered an aspect of our system that I haven't ever used that much so that at least wasn't as boring as it had been so far. After class, i took a nap and then went to my first day of sailing class, which I just now got back from. Tonight we covered basic terminology, wind characteristics, wind effect vs the keel, and knots. The sailing I've done with Mike so far has gotten me pretty far ahead of the book, but not ahead of most everyone else. It seems I'm in the same boat with everyone else who has already done some sailing but have to take the course to be certified through the Navy. We could just test out of it but all our individual commands mandate the course...whatever... It can't hurt and it's something to do and there's always something new mixed in. Now I'm off to bed. Tomorrow, after class, we will meet down at the dock to get some hands-on. We won't be going out, just touching stuff.
We are four days ahead in class so today we dealt with paperwork. Apparently we were given the wrong amount of per diem so we've only been getting $13/day and we're supposed to be getting $64/day. So our class advisor is fixing it and we'll get backpay.
Sailing class took us down to the docks to get hands-on sail handling. We were taught how to attach the sails and raise them, which knots to use on which lines, where to tie each sheet(sail line), and other such things. Then we went back to the classroom and discussed Rules of the Road. Tomorrow is the classroom test. Now I'm going to bed...
Today we had to do a dog&pony show for a visiting admiral. Somehow we managed to appear interested in some very basic operations for a little over 2 hours. We are so far ahead that we are getting tomorrow off. We'll get into some advanced buoy ops on Monday and probly take the test on Tuesday.
At 1030 I went to my dental appointment for 1100. Oh, I think I forgot to mention that. A filling fell out of my tooth when I was on a plane halfway here. I originally had an appointment scheduled for the third. This is where it gets good. The appointment was for 0700. I showed up and checked in at 0645. Then I sat in a seat right in front of the front desk, maybe 10 feet away. I was also wearing my uniform, which happens to have my name emblazoned in big bold letters on my chest. There were several other people there too and they all ended up going before me. I thought maybe they were backed up so I sat tight and waited for my name to be called. When 0800 rolled around I walked the two steps to the lady at the desk and asked when I was going to be seen. She looked up at me like I had just grown a third nose and declared that I had been entered as a no-show. So I stand there with a few thoughts running through my head... I point out that they had taken my ID, checked my name, given it back to me, then had me fill out three different forms for four different reasons. When she didn't remember that (regardless of the fact that she found the forms right away), I pointed out that I had been sitting right in front of her for an hour. When she said she hadn't noticed (She hadn't noticed?!?!), I pointed out that even if all that were the case, no one ever thought to ask if I was in the waiting room. So then they apologize and tell me they will try to fit me in within the next two hours. Okay, the news on the tv wasn't too depressing. So I sit down, watch some tv, and take a quasi-nap. Suddenly I realize that the clock says 1015. Note that I have now been sitting in the waiting room of the dental clinic for three and a half hours. I ask when I can be seen. Again she looks up at me like Jay Leno had just walked in behind me. Apparently my appointment had been rescheduled for the 10th at 1100 and had been rescheduled an hour and a half ago. I believe I exhibited an incredible display of patience as I stood there looking at her like she was paddling a container ship with a toothpick, shrugged, took the appointment card, and walked out.
So today I walked in, checked in, and stood in front of the desk until the nurse came and said my name. Anyway, it's taken care of. It seems that the pressure in the plane, combined with a filling that was put in wrong in the first place, all caused it to fall out. In an hour I will be off to take my classroom test for my sailing course. I'll write more about that later...
I just got back from taking the test for the classroom sailing. I am now qualified as a Class A Mate. After I pass the practical portion next week I'll be a skipper! I missed one question but it turned out to have two right answers so we got that one on the curve. As for sonar class tomorrow, we've managed to get the day off because we are so ahead of the curriculum. So I'm going to sleep in and then maybe go rent a kayak (if i can find one that has the top half...). If not I'll call a few numbers the bishop gave me and see what people are up to. The rest of the class is trying to organize a trip to NYC. I really can't think of a good reason to go as I'm not a city person but I'm here. Could I really face anyone back home if I spent two months in New England and never went to NYC, possibly the only chance I'll ever have. And "At least I went to see Boston" just isn't going to cover it...
Today was a rainy day (poured actually) so I hung out and called people I haven't talked to in a long time. At the same time, I ironed uniforms for next week, did some laundry, actually folded my laundry, and watched movies and youtube. Then I rearranged all my itunes playlists. Tomorrow I sail!
We had our first on-the-water sailing session. We are training in a sailboat called a Rhodes 19. They are very responsive compared to the sloop I've been learning in. We practiced jibing, tacking, docking, and all that other good stuff. Then I hiked around Newport and checked out the mansions and such. Good times. I was lucky enough to be assigned a boat with someone who is experienced at sailing, not much more than me but not a first timer. That made our instructor a bit happier so we ended up with some advanced maneuvers. The unfortunate side-effect of all this however, is that at some point I'm going to want to buy a sailboat!
I was going to go to church, but my ride never showed and of course they have my phone number but I don't have theirs. So I packed a picnic lunch and started walking around the island. After a good long hike that didn't get me very far when I looked back (because of all the inlets), I decided to turn around. That turned out to be a good decision. I had just gotten back to the marina when Mike called and asked if I was up for sailing today. Of course I'm always willing to go so I met him on the dock and off we went. Today was actually a good day to sail a sloop. The wind was perfect. We ended up heeling quite a bit and the both of us had to sit high on the gunwale on each tack. The rated hull speed of his boat is 5.1 kts but we got up to 7.2! The sails were nearly touching the water, we were heeled so far over. I just got back from that a few minutes ago. Now I'm going to have a webcam date with Jenny and head to bed eventually.
Today we took our week 3 test. No story there. After class I did some laundry and then went to my second on-the-water sailing lesson. I think I've got it pretty well figured out. I have another lesson tomorrow and the practical test on thursday. So today we worked on jibing and tacking again, but we spent quite a bit more time on man-over-board maneuvers. They have us doing a tack afterward then making a run for several boatlengths in the other direction but still parallel of the original course, then jibing back. It seems a lot of work when I could just flip a quick 180 but regardless of what I think might work better, I need to do their maneuver for the lessons. It's all good.
In school today we reviewed a couple of slideshows and tried to stay awake. PT this morning was basketball, which served to remind me of how bad I am at it. Two-hand touch football tomorrow. Sailing today wasn't so great. We had wind to get out a couple of miles and then it died. So, because I was the only one in the boat that knows how (and I was teamed with two stick figures...) I ended up rowing almost a mile back to the dock. But any time spent in a boat is a good use of time. We get our checkride on Thursday.
Nothing too awful exciting today. The highlight would have to be pt this morning. Turns out I couldn't catch a football if it was handed to me like a raw egg, but I don't seem to have a problem throwing it. So I qb'd and threw 9/10 passes complete. We lost 9-6 (1 pt/td) but 5 of those were from my throws. We lost to the instructors. But I went in thinking I'd be useless so I call it a win somehow! Class was boring, the lab was not functioning and by some miracle, they've run out of slideshows for now so we had a slow day. Compound that to a very windy day and that makes the morning the best part of the day. A rare thing, when PT is the most exciting part of the day...
Today was actually a fairly eventful day. We did some labtime in class, but who cares about that. The NEX sells Souix City Sarsparilla!!!!!!! They only had two left so I took them both and they only cost 99cents. I also picked up some Hank's Birch Beer and Cream Soda. That makes my week!
After buying my groceries I went sailing for my check-ride. As I suspected I aced it although the weather was against us. We were in 5-10 mph winds with gusts to 20. That doesn't sound like much but the boat is only 19 feet long. But it was tons of fun. We all got soaked and then we got our certificates. Now I just take a rules-of-the-road test when I get back to Washington and I can sail there too.
After sailing, I had to hurry back a little to a meeting of all of us here. We are trying to get our NYC trip organized. So far we are looking at paying $50/person for a hotel room and another $10/person for gas. We also have a couple of people who really want to go to Boston so I think we're all going tomorrow afternoon, then spending the night at a friend's house in Connecticut, then going down to NYC Saturday morning to get there at noon'ish. Most of our exploring will be on Sunday and then back late Sunday night. We'll see how this works out. I'm trying not to spend more than $75 for the trip, good luck with that right?
I need to get my good working uniform all ironed up for our Dog & Pony show tomorrow morning. We are going to be in a video running the system...
We decided to go to NYC this weekend and Boston. So we just go back from Boston. We are staying the night at a friend's house in Connecticut which is where I'm typing this from right now. We visited all the same places plus the Cheers Bar and the People's Garden. I'll write more later, I'm tired.
I'm in New Jersey in a Holiday Inn. Today we found the Empire State Building, and all sorts of of tourists traps. I'll write a better description when I'm on a real computer. But we're having fun. Tomorrow we'll find Central Park.
We just got back to the base after a very long car ride. I slept for most, if not all of it but not in the best position. So please forgive me for not detailing the trip tonight. I'm going to take some ibuprofen and get some sleep in a bed. Hopefully my neck wont hurt so bad in the morning. Tomorrow I'll write about the entire weekend and upload pics.
Today we had to write critiques of this last month of school. Then I rented one of the sailboats that I learned on and got certified. Only this time as the skipper. But that's not near as interesting as what what I did over the weekend.
We left Friday afternoon for Boston. There we saw many of the sites that I saw two weeks ago, minus the tour guide. I'm glad we'd opted for the guided tour last time... Then we ate dinner at Cheer's and walked around the People's Garden for a while. After that, we drove to Connecticut and stayed the night at Mike's house. (a shipmate) I woke up at 6 for some weird reason and started walking around checking out the house. They built it fifty years ago but it looks like a red brick mansion from the early 1800's maybe. Mike didn't do this trip with us due to a friend's funeral that he attended this weekend, so he had some time to cut some brush and dead tree limbs Thurs night. So Saturday morning, when I woke up early, their lab Tasha and I wandered around outside and eventually began hauling brush to the burn pile. It started out as finding a stick to throw for her. While I waited for her to bring it back, I'd throw small debri onto the pile. Then OCD kicked in and there was always yet another stick to throw for Tasha or throw on the pile! At 930, Mike came out and said to come eat breakfast. Good Times...
Anyway, we left at about 1030 for NYC and got to our hotel across the river in Jersey (Holiday Inn) at about 1300'ish. Traffic wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. We checked in a bit early, dropped our gear, and caught a bus into town. We were dropped off at the MTA station near 175'th st. From there we took the subway everywhere. We were all low on cash, so unfortunately our tourism was reduced to what was cheap or free. So we had to be satisfied with seeing the Empire State Building, Time's Square, the George Washington Bridge, and such. We walked the length of Battery Park looking for the Staten Island Ferry which was rumored to be free. We couldn't find it, but we got some pictures from across the bay above the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island. We saw two of the original forts that protected the bay and visited the 9/11 Memorial with the burning flame. At some point we voted on where to eat dinner and ended up at Mustang Harry's. After dinner, we toured some of the night life and then decided we were tired. So we all got lost trying to get back to 175th St until we realized the entire island is one big grid. Then we felt like locals! We all got back to the hotel just fine, except that we got ripped off by a cranky bus driver who neglected to inform us that we had to pay for the toll bridge until we were at the toll bridge, but I suppose you can't visit New York without getting cheated or mugged. I think we got lucky on this trip.
We all rose like zombies at about 10 on Sunday morning and barely got out of the room in time for checkout at 11. We got back to 175th and split up from there. Three of our five could afford the $100 tickets for 'The lion King' while the other two of us set out in search of Central Park. It wasn't hard to find. We took the subway from 175th to 59th and then wandered around the wrong side of the block for half an hour looking for the park. Then we got turned around by a cop on a horse and felt like idiots when the huge park spread out before our eyes on the other side of the building from where we exited the subway so long ago. We meandered around for about two hours and felt that we had seen the entire park. Surely over the next rise would be the exit at the south end. Nope. In fact we found a map of the park with a circle that said 'you are here'. Well, 'here' turned out to be the very northeast corner of the park. According to the map, we were only six inches into a park that was three feet long and almost a foot wide! So we gave up and went into the Museum of Natural History that was across the street from us. We waited patiently in line to buy tickets for twenty minutes, wondering if we would qualify for the $16 tickets rather than having to fork over the standard $20. When we got to the counter and asked if we could get a military discount near that of a student discount, we were pleased to find out that we could have skipped the line altogether, shown our military id's, and been in the musuem within moments. Oh well, it's New York, standing in long lines seems to be the norm in that area. Except we didn't have a horn to honk obnoxiously. So we wandered aimlessly through the museum, lacking the attention span for most of the exhibits but dutifully looking at each one for at least ten seconds. Then, being boys, we found ourselves in the dinosaur rooms. Well, we've seen monkeys and whales and indians, and the like...but neither of us could claim to have seen a dinasaur. We read every plaque. We touched every 'Touch Me'. We watched every interactive video. We picked up every pamphlet. It was so cool! And then we got into the space room and we were blown away! Where else could you stand on a scale and know your weight on Halley's Comet, except for the comet itself of course?
After the museum, we ate at a newer restaraunt called Shnippes, proundly founded in 2009! It's a 50's style diner sort of a thing. But they serve a root beer that I've never had before. I rate it near IBC in taste. After dinner, we met up with the rest of the group and set out for Wall Street. We found it no problem after an incredibly long subway trip that stopped every few blocks. (we didn't know there was an express train in the next track...) We took all the right pictures, and then set off back in the other direction so the other three could set foot in Central Park. Once they had done so, we decided we'd had enough and headed home. I can't tell you anything about that trip because I turned on my ipod, got some Angels and Airwaves going, and proceded to sleep for three and a half hours. I'm told that I woke up partway into the trip, went into the fastfood place we stopped at, bought some bottled water, and went back to sleep. The only proof of that is a bottle of water with a New York state reciept. It was a long and eventful weekend that I would change in many ways. One problem was our lack of knowledge. We didn't know what to go see. Another was a lack of appropriate funding. But the biggest problem was that Jenny wasn't there to share it with me. But if we should ever have the money and time to do it. There is so much I didn't get to do that I would hardly count this as a visit. I couldn't go up to the top of the Empire State Building. I couldn't go see a broadway play. I couldn't take a rowboat on the pond in Central Park. I couldn't go to the Statue of Liberty or Staten Island. And so much more. Should I visit again, I think I'd like to rent a sailboat for us. I can do that now!
For the rest of this week we're just killing time in the class waiting for graduation on Friday. Then I start the next class on Monday. Other than basketball at pt and some review of the training program in class, I didn't do much else. I did get my laundry done though.
Today the computers didn't work so we didn't do much of anything in class except throw the frisbee around. Then our instructor put up a slideshow on the projector but that didn't last long either. It seems there is a ghost in the system. Every couple of minutes the menu would pop up for the projector so someone had to keep pressing cancel. Then sometimes when she pressed next slide on the computer, it would actually skip a few slides. Then the color would change oddly, and once the projector actually went into standby mode all on it's own. No one could figure out what was wrong with it, it looks just fine. I'll give the remote back tomorrow sometime.
I was going to go sailing today but I need to buy groceries. I can't afford to rent the boat every day so it will have to be a once-a-week thing. Now I'm talking to Jenny, so ttyl.
Today we finished up some pre-graduation paperwork and some nko junk. Other than that, I tried to get some ppl to go sailing but they wanted to go drinking instead. They offered to mix the activities but I politely declined. So I took a nap. Sorry, boring. I did fix up my dress uniform for graduation tomorrow. I'll let you know how that goes.
Today we graduated from our Sonar Ops course. I'm sure glad I've now been so thoroughly instructed in the operations of a system I've been using for over a year now. I'm relieved to find the Navy using tax dollars so efficiently. Oh well, at least I'm getting a two month vacation away from that hole in the water that the government throws so much money into.
On a brighter note, I played basketball with a bunch of almost-officers for almost four hours. Then I took a shower that almost matched that time span. I've never felt so old. A little bit ago, I got a text message from an officer that is also from the base here. He and another officer are here for the War College. Anyway, I guess word got out from a fellow student that I am a qualified sailing skipper. So now they've asked me to take them out tomorrow. Okay... They are paying and I get some extra hands on the lines. I'm also helping Mike work on his boat tomorrow morning. He has to go up the mast and rig halyards for his new spinnaker. Then if we have time before my rental time, Mike and I will take it out and run the spinnaker for a while. See how it holds up...
Today I tried to sleep in for a good long time. That ended up being 8:30... Then I went to Subway and got a 12" BMT. After lunch, I took those officers out sailing, one of them just about tipped us and only my own quick reaction kept that from happening. I don't know why I trusted an officer to drive...lol
Now I'm talking to Jenny on the webcam and eating a large italian sausage pizza from pizza hut. I was going to get some root beer too but all they have is mug. So I'm stuck with Sierra Mist, a Sprite wanna-be. Tomorrow, church and a good long nap.
I went to church, took a long shower and then a nap. Now I'm goin to spend the rest of the evening talking to Jenny on the webcam and then go to bed early. Tomorrow is a lot of paperwork for starting a new class. It's Sunday, I don't have to do anything today right?
Today we didn't have class because our instructor isn't here yet. So we we start at 9 tomorrow after pt. So I did laundry, ironed uniforms, Jenny said I could drink a monster, I shouldn't have (lol), and now we're on the webcam and I'm making playlists on Itunes. Sorry, slow day.
Again, no class. Oh well, I'm enjoying my vacation. I tried to go sailing today with a classmate but it was too windy. We were giving up when a couple of the instructors decided to go out and invited us to experience some high wind sailing. With the four of us in the boat, we could more easily handle it. The hull speed of the boat is 5kts but we got it up to almost 10! It was an adrenaline rush and we never even got out of the harbor! After that, I turned on the tv and took a long nap. We did have pt tho this morning and decided to do a workout called P90X. I don't want to do it again!
We had class today. For an hour... PT was volleyball, which I am definitely no good at, and don't think any amount of practice will change that. After our one slideshow, I took a nap for a couple of hours, then decided I was bored. This whole 'no class' thing is getting monotonous. So I went to the gym and threw a basketball up in the air for a while. Every so often, it would come down throw a hoop, but not very. I do think that it beginning to happen more frequently though. Maybe there's a chance of improvement there, but it's not something I'm going to practice with any great fervor. The rest of the afternoon, I did laundry and watched a movie. Yoplait Whips make great frozen yogurt btw...
PT today was basketball. Then we got our new instructor. He's a moron. He just doesn't seem to understand that we already know what we're doing and keeps trying to teach us all the basics. When we tell him we already know, he just starts over. This guy is going to get an education. We are not booters straight from A school. That, and he keeps trying to explain the guts of the cabinets. We aren't techs, we're operators. We couldn't care less what all those cords and circuit boards do and we've managed to make that clear. We just fade out while he tries to explain it. Then when he asks us what 'that' is, we tell him it's something electronic with a bunch of cables attached to it...so what? We don't fix the gear, we use it. We'll have him trained soon though.
Beyond that, I get to see my Mom and my little sister tomorrow night!!
Sorry about the missing days. I couldn't get on the net. Anyway...
The trip started out great and ended up great but each way had a weird flight. The second flight going down was delayed three hours for maintenance. So I sat in La Guardia and tried to sleep...nada. On the way back, the second flight was one of five flights that went out the same gate in a 20 minute time span. It was ridiculously disorganized. That was the only bad part of the trip though so it's fine...now.
Once I got there at 0015 Saturday morning, Mom picked me up and we talked for a couple of hours (yeah I know, should have been sleeping but we wanted to chat). Then I got some sleep. When we woke up, bout 9, we ate breakfast which is a novelty for me to begin with. After breakfast, Allycia went to hang out with her friend and Mom and I went to the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton. We casually cruised around and talked to everyone about everything. I think we spent the most time at the Irish Forge. I think I learned more from the guy there in half an hour than I have so far in all of my schooling here so far. And it was ten times more interesting, I should've taken notes. We explored the 1720's farm, the 1820's farm, the 1850's farm, the civil war camp, the Irish farm, the Enlish farm, and the German farm. It was a good use of a day. I can honestly say that I've never gotten into a naval discussion with a member of the Virginia regiment before. And as Walter says, what are the odds now?
After that, we drove around and checked out all the old buildings in Staunton. Then we did some shopping that I can't talk about cuz I got something for Jenny and she reads this. I'll write about it after I've given it to her. Allycia was still out with her friend, so Mom and I found this hole-in-the-wall italian restaurant. I ate a huge dish of baked spaghetti. Likely some of the best Ever!
We slept in a bit longer the the next morning but Mom and I still got up in time to get some breakfast. Then we did some more small town shopping, then drover up the Skyline Drive to Charlottesville where we did some more shopping and then they dropped me off at the airport.
Today we had our first UCFS test. I got 97% on it and didn't pay any attention at all in class. I've already read ahead 4 chapters and taken my own notes as well as answering all the study questions. This civilian instructor is paid by the hour so he's milking every slide for every possible second. Often he'll show a slide of a diagram and spend 20 minutes describing it. Then the next slide will be the same one but rotated 90 degrees and he'll then describe the same things all over again for another 20 minutes. No amount of subtle or not-so-subtle hinting will get this guy to understand that we aren't as stupid as he thinks we are. Oh well...24 more days.
I've since done some laundry and eaten dinner. Now I'm finally getting to see Jenny on the webcam again after four days without! I know, I'm pathetic...but I've gotten used to seeing her face and hearing her voice most every night. Tomorrow we'll be in the lab, and I'm sure this guy will treat us like we were born yesterday...even though we already know how to do it. What part of "We are only in this class because we have to have the course Code, we've been using the equipment for over a year already" does he not understand?
We started doing training in the lab now. Which means sitting at the console and actually going through the motions with a simulation. We spent most of the morning and afternoon just trying to get the system to work. I can't believe the instructors keep trying to get us to do it. That's a tech's job and we aren't techs. All we need in that area in a rudimentary understanding so that we could understand what a manual might need to describe to us in an emergency. Anyway...after lunch, eventually, we asked what our objective actually was for the day. Turns out all we had to do was something so basic that I've been doing it since I got to the ship a year and a half ago. So I asked him, "If I can make that happen in less than five minutes, can we go?" He treats us like infants and said yes, not believing I could even locate the right buttons to press. I had it done in 45 seconds. Now this is real. We all said "have a nice day", laughed, and walked out. At 1530!!! If we'd known that was the objective for the day, I'd have done it first thing in the morning. I'm getting tired of this idiot not getting the message! We already know all this basic stuff. Let's move on!!!
We all went to watch a movie immediately after class, then I talked to Jenny for a while and now I'm off to bed. Hopefully this guy gets the hint and skips the easy stuff. I wasn't sent to this class to learn what I already knew over a year ago... He thinks he's a big, bad civilian instructor so he's pushing us around like we're straight from boot camp and still afraid. In case he hasn't noticed yet, we have no fear and very little respect for him. He's going to regret his lack of understanding come time for the critique. I don't like being this way, but we've tried to talk to him rationally and he refuses to listen. He calls us amateurs with tiny little brains, yet today I shut him down hard. Think he heard the bell this time? I wasn't raised to disrespect others and I wasn't raised to be disrespected!
Ok, I am officially and thoroughly annoyed. However, I have made an important and amazing discovery. A person truly can become dumber by joining the Navy. I don't think I was the first to discover that, but I am the first to discover it for me... I'm afraid my journal entries are going to be very boring and repetitive for the rest of the month. Believe when I say, I really am sorry for that. Somebody please give me a concussion or make me smell a sweaty sock or something. Anything but this 'class' for another three weeks!
We convinced the grinch to let us out at noon. Partially because we gave him extra time before lunch to finish his slide shows (we call them naps...). Again, he scheduled three hours for the test. It took us less than 20 minutes. He just doesn't get it! After lunch I folded laundry and watched 10,000 BC. This weekend I'm trying to line up an overnight sail with Mike to Prudence Island.
I slept in today. I think that is one of the best feelings in the world. Then I rented a fishing pole from MWR. I got a deal on that actually. They charge $5/day but he's not charging me for tomorrow or Monday. They don't have bait though so I spent $18 at the NEX to get that stuff. I didn't catch anything today but I didn't expect too either. Fishing is a habit of patience. I just wandered around looking for good spots.
After my day's fishing I downloaded a few movies for my ipod and watched a few of them. Not much else to tell. Jenny has been having fun with family and friends back in Michigan so I don't think she'll be on before I get to bed but we've texting all day.
I went to church today and managed to stay awake. After church, they had what's called a linger longer, which is exactly what it sounds like, plus good food! After church, I took a nap (am I getting old?) and then watch AFV on youtube for a couple of hours while eating ritz crackers and pb&j's... Then Jenny and I arranged to watch Monsters vs Aliens simultaneously... All in all, a good use of a Sunday in my opinion. I think I laughed too hard at AFV though, my ribs are actually sore...
I slept in, which is something that will never get old. Then I went fishing all day. I'd beg to differ with anyone on the planet who thinks that's a waste of a day. :) (Although I am now convinced that there are absolutely no fish in this entire ocean.)
I'm really not sure what to do with this new schedule. We are in class at noon and get out at 2000. The entire days is really shot down in flames. Nothing opens until 9. Even MWR isn't open until 11. So sailing is out until the weekends. So is fishing because I can't rent the pole and I'm not going to buy one that I'll only have for two weeks or so. So now I'm trying to decide if I should stay up late and sleep in or go to bed normally and get up normally and try to use the morning? Last time I had a schedule like this, I went to Don's house until early morning and then went home to bed... If only all of life's dilemna were so terrible, right? Maybe I'll work out in the mornings?
Believe me when I say, no one is more disappointed in my boring life now than I am. I have nothing to write. Even class is more annoying than educational. I was treated with more respect when I was in boot camp, and my intelligence was put to greater use while playing chinese checkers.
Class was a waste of time, even more so than usual. The system was down all day. Rather than call the day a loss and cut us loose, we had to sit around and wait for it to get fixed. I knew to begin with that it wouldn't be quick, mostly because I'm familiar with the system, but no one listened. That was at noon. Now it's 8pm and it never did work at all. Oh well...
Today wasn't a total loss. I got some sleep while we waited, I remembered that I brought a few computer games, and I got a two state quarters from the vending machines. I need to check if we've already got them.
I hit my head today, on the slide bolt lock on the hotel door. It's this metal knob that sticks out a few inches that you can swing this bar across and use like a chain lock when the door is shut. Anyway, I was walking out this door and suddenly thought I'd forgotten my room key. So I stopped midstride, whipped out my wallet and half bent over to look in it. My timing was perfect. The door swung shut as I bent down and I slammed my left temple into the steel knob like I was trying to break a board in karate class. Now I have this huge bump/welt on my head. This was about 11:00 today. It even bled a bit. So now I have a bad headache and I'm really tired but I can't sleep cuz of the pain. Great, just great. And add to that, there are a bunch of loud idiot almost-officers in the room next to me that wont shut up! If I was really trying to sleep, I'd make a big deal of it, but whatever... It's the weekend and they sound like they are having a good time. I have no idea what I'm going to do tomorrow other than go get some groceries. I'm tellin ya, this schedule is murder. What am I supposed to do between 2200 and 1000 the next day, during the workweek...? The entire day is shot! On the other hand, I'm getting more sleep, so I guess there is a bright side. But then I need it because the complete lack of excitement in this class is wearing me out. I've had more energy left over at the end of a day after a hard day's work of manual labor than I have after this boring, uninsightfull day. Tax dollars hard at work here, huh? Remember, I'm just as sorry as you. And after this class, I'm back to that hole in the water that the government dumps so much money into. Shouldn't we be providing some humanitarian aid somewhere instead of sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing for month after month? Being in uniform is all well and good but I think, so far, I did more service for my country when I worked at the grocery store.
Today I slept in and then went grocery shopping. I got some more sarsparilla and some cookie dough! Now I've had enough sugar for one day I think. I'm still finishing up some laundry, then off to bed. Church tomorrow.
My ride to church was sick today and I felt like sleeping in today anyway, so I did. Afterward, I played Empire Earth online for a while and beat up on some people with the help of a great player as an ally. Then Jenny and I had our webcam time, (she fell asleep...) and here I sit. I'm trying to decide if I should go to bed and wake up early or stay up late and wake up late. Most likely, the latter...
Um yeah, no... nothing exciting today. Sorry. Well, I did finally fold and put away the laundry that I washed on Saturday. How's that?
I'm not one for partying on the weekends (or ever...) but I'm bored enough that I ask around and see if anyone has anything going on. I'm still going to avoid the drinking and such, but there are a lot of young single adults in this ward and I am a geo-bachelor, so maybe they'll have something going on that I can get in on. Or, since this will be my last free weekend for a long time, maybe I'll just sleep it through. (probly not, i'm bored)
I now understand the enticement of shoot-em-up games. I have reached a point of boredom that mindless killing on a tv screen has become satisfying. And exhausting. I'm just glad I'm no good at it, terrible actually. I can't wait to get my life back. Not the ship life, real life. I want my freedom back. I never understood, but those who fight so hard to defend American freedom....have none, but want it back so bad. How long until I forget what it is?
I got cookies in the mail from Jenny! Snowmen, and Halloween and such! And enough to last this cookie monster a least a few days. Then Jenny and I watched the Jeff Dunham show together, in different time zones. A good end to a long day.
We got out early today. We still aren't sure what angel landed on the instructor's shoulder and begged him to have mercy on us, but we aren't going to look into it too much. We don't want to scare it away.
I went and played the shoot em up game with the guys afterward while I waited for Jenny to get home for the webcam. I think I prefer my fishing games. Somehow, shoot em ups just don't look like a game that I could enjoy. It's the same thing over and over again. At least with the fishing game, each catch is different. Plus the fact that I'm not shooting at people. I don't understand how people are okay with it. But then again, it is somehow satisfying. I can't deny that. Maybe it's the destructive nature of us guys?
Anyway, I made a picture montage to use as a desktop background. I included at least one pic of everything that I could think of that I love in life. Family, Kodiak, fishing, the critters (past and present), special occassions, etc... I'm working on another project too. I can't wait to get home so I can give Jenny the present I got for her in Virginia. I thought about waiting for Christmas but anyone who knows me, knows that I can't wait that long. Besides, I can't write it in here until I've given it to her.
High winds, lots of rain, and cold. Yeah, I didn't do much of anything today. I've been ready to go home since I got here but I'm really wishing for it now. Even if it means going back to that useless hunk of floating scrap metal, at least I'll be with Jenny. Not much more often, but a little.
Today I went to church here in Newport, for the last time. I kinda like the atmosphere at this ward. Despite being east coast, they seem very laid back. I can almost picture them being in Washington, and then I get outside and see all the high noses surrounding the church grounds. Maybe it's just good old fashioned LDS hospitality... 6 days left... I return to something I hate and someone I love. The question is, which is greater? The hate or the love?
Today, after class, I got online and found a bunch of Christmas ideas for Jenny. She's all excited right now, with Christmas and my birthday coming up. I think my homecoming might be helping too. I feel like I'm coming back from deployment.
Today wasn't too bad. We had our last written test. Wasn't easy. Everything is very hands-on so... Imagine trying to take a written test on how to use a digital camera. That's certainly easier than operating an advanced sonar system on a warship but the same principal applies. It's not something you really think about or study. You just have to do it. I got a 97 tho. If I pass the practical tomorrow (2 years of doing it already, if I fail I'm truly pathetic), I will be the honor grad for this class. I missed it in the last class by 2 points... :(
In three days, I'm home! I need to wrap Jenny's present, and I still can't find a thimble for her mom to collect. I got one from Virginia though. That one is pewter, so kinda hard to beat I think. I may have to see what the airport has. I should probly find a trinket for my own Mom too huh? The funny part of this whole trip is that I'm not bringing anything home that I collected except for two certificates for classes that I neither needed nor wanted. I don't doubt the advantage of them, but I was separated from my wife to learn how to do something I already knew how to do. When put that way... On the other hand, we've come out almost $2k ahead... (Thanx for all those tax dollars)
I did get to see a lot of cool sites and visited my Mom and my little sister. I think I may have patched up some things there too, or at least cleared up some complications caused by misunderstandings over a distance. It's a good feeling, being forgiven.
We took the practical today. It was pass fail, and I'm graduating tomorrow, so I guess I passed.
This is my last night in Rhode Island. I have mixed feelings about going back. On the one hand, I finally get to be with Jenny again, but on the other hand, I wish I could just bring her here. Already I've gotten bad news and more bad news from the ship. Not only will I have to report a day earlier and have duty this Sunday but I also just found out that I will have to go cranking for a month starting mid-Nov. I can't help the feeling that I'd love to start cracking some heads together. I want a real life. I feel like Pinocchio, I have no control over my own strings and the puppet master is dangling me over a river. Two and a half years more of this. I'm afraid I wont have any hopes or dreams by the time it's over. I already have trouble remembering what they were. And Jenny is getting dragged along, the puppet of a puppet of a cruel and evil master.
